Wheel cover



Sept. .17, 1940.

G. A. LYON WHEEL C0 VER Filed April 8, 1937 4; Sheets-Sheet 2 EVE-n@ I 17, 1940` G. A. LYON Y- 2,214,747 i WHEEL covER Filed April ajiszn 4 sanas-shut s Je i ff Sept 17, 1940. 6.-@ LYQNv '2,214,741

WHEEL C 0 VER Filed April 8. 1957 @siate-sheet 4 50 of the Wheel.

Patented sept. 17,1940

UNITED STATES 9Claims.

'I'his invention relates to a method and means for mounting a member on a'wheel, and more particularly to a method and means which permits an ornamental member to be mounted on a wheel with little effort and with a relatively small force, but which requires a relatively great force to disengage the ornamental member from the wheel.

This is a continuation in part of my copending application, entitled Means for mounting ornamental wheel accessory, Serial No. 109,251, filed November 5, 1936.

In designing ornamental members adapted to be secured on the outer side of a wheel, it is conll sidered important to provide a construction which may quickly and easily `be assembled, which will not accidentally come oif due tovibration or sudden jar, and which may readily be disassembled when desired. The most desirable construction, therefore, would include a mounting means which requires very little force to assemble the ornamentalmember on the wheel, but which requires a relatively great force to remove the ornamental member from the wheel. Furthermore, a mounting means of the above type preferably should be hidden from view in the assembled position of the ornamental member on the wheel.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel wheel assembly possessing the above highly desirable characteristics.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel wheel assembly including novel means for mounting an ornamental member on a wheel,

u which is economical to manufacture and which is fr) rugged and reliable in use. ,f A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method and means of mounting an ornamental member on a wheel which requires only a a', relatively small force to mount the member,b but which requires a relatively great force to dismount the member from the wheel.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel means for mounting a plurality o f orna-l 5 mental members on a wheel.

A still further object of this invention is to provide novel means for mounting an ornamental member on a wheel, themeans being secured to an auxiliary member mounted on the front face Another and further object of this invention is to provide means for mounting an ornamental member on a wheel including a plurality of leaf spring ornamental member retaining elements of 55 a novel design, which elements operate in a novel WHEEL COVER George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, N. J. Application April 8, 1937, Serial No. 135,657

"PATENT OFFICE RESSUED JUN 1 6 |942 manner to detachably secure an ornamental member to the wheel.

The; novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention 'reset forth with particularity in the appended claims.I itself, however, both as to its organization and manner of construction, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:v l

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in cross section, of the upper half of a wheel assembly including an ornamental vmember and novel means for mounting the ornamental member on. the wheel;

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of a `wheel assembly, a portion of the ornamental member being broken away to show the lmeans for mounting the ornamental member on the wheel;

i Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of the novel mounting means of the present invention;

Figure iv is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross-section, similar to the upper right hand portion of Figure 1 but showing a slightly modified form of ornamental member retaining means;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, of the upper half of a wheel assembly'illustrating an ornamental member of difierent configuration from that shown in Figure 1 but having substantially the s ame form of ornamental member retaining means on the Wheel;

Figure 6 is a fragmentaryview, partly in cross section, illustrating a slightly modied form of the embodiment of my'invention illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure l is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing a novel arrangement whereby the trim ring is My invention temporarily held in-place during' the assembling y of the central ornamental member;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the novel form of ornamental member retaining means, the free end of which is disposed over an annular groove in the body part of the wheel;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevational view illustratingvthe novel .ornamental member retaining means disposed over raised portions on the vehicle wheel;

`Figure 10 is a front elevational view of'a wheel assembly, of which a portion was illustrated in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the novel ornamental member retaining means secured to a separate mounting ring mounted on the front face of a wheel; and

Figure 12 is a front elevational View of a Wheel, incorporating the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure 1l.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the wheel assembly illustrated includes a wheel I0 having a rim part Il and a body part l2. The rim I I is illustrated as being ofthe usual drop center type having a base ange i3, opposite side ilanges id, opposite Y intermediate flanges l5, and opposite edge portions i6.. The body part i2 is illustrated as having a configuration similar tothat recently'adopted by many manufacturers to permit'the use of a brake drum l1 which extends well beneath the base ange i3 of the rim il. As will be seen from the drawings, the body part i2 includes a substantially laterally extending ange I8, the outer edge portion I9 of which is adapted to fit below the base vilange I3 of the rim il and be secured thereto in any suitable manner, such as by welding, riveting or the like. The central portion of the body part l2 includes a circular holding ilange 20 which is adapted to be secured by suitable bolts '2l (preferably ve) to the axle plate 22 on the front face of the brake drum il.

Two ornamental members 23 and 2d are shown disposed on the outer side of the wheel i6. The ornamental member 23 is a relatively large domeshaped member having an underturned outer edge 25. The ornamental member. 2d is illustrated as having some suitable conguration which is pleasing to the eye and includes an underturned outer peripheral edge 25 which is adapted to bear against the outer edge portion i6 of the rim i l, and it is also provided with an underturned inner edge portion 2l which is adapted to extend into biting engagement with the outer intermediate flange l5 of the rim l l. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the

l biting engagement made by the underturned edge 2l with a portion of the rim H causes the ornamental member 2d to be tightly and substantially permanently mounted on the wheel.

The novel ornamental member retaining means, which forms one of the cardinal features of the present invention, will now be described.

Secured to the'outer face of the body part l2 is a plurality of leaf spring elements 28 formed of some suitable resilient material, such as spring steel. Each element 28 includes a tail portion 29, an intermediate or main portion 30, and an end portion 3|.A The tail portion 29 is secured to the front face of the body part l2 in any suitable manner, such as by a rivet 32. The intermediate portion 30 of the element 28 extends radially outwardly and slightly rearwardly, as is clearly indicated in the drawings. The outer end portion 3| of each leaf spring element 28 is bentl so as yto form a substantial angle with the main portion 30 of the element 28 for a reason which will proximity to the base flange I3 of the vrim Il..

When the spring elements 28 are in .their normal unstressed position, the Vmain body parts 38 of the elements 28 lieaway from4 the laterally extending ange i8. That is, the elements 28 are free to ex either toward or away from the body part' l2 of the wheel l0. As the. ornamental member 23 is moved into the desired position on the wheel I0, the elements 28 are exed'radially inwardly toward the flange I8 by reason of the camming action of the underturned edge 25 of the member 23 and the mainl portion 30 of the element 28. This camming action continues until the high points 34 of the elements 28 snap up into ornamental member retaining position behindthe underturned edge 25.

It is to be observed that while the elements 28 are easily iiexed by a relative slight force inresponse to axially inwardI movement of the member 23, the elements 28 are extremelydiicult to member 28, for in this case the free ends of the Y elements 28 must move in a. direction against the direction of the applied force. (It is, of course, to be understood that the term against as used herein is not to be limited to mean a direction degrees and only 180 degrees from the direction of the applied force, but on the other hand is used in its broader sense to mean not having any component in the same directionf).

The underlying mechanical principles involved in an easy-on, hard-off ornamental member mounting assembly is clearly indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, as the ornamental member 23 is first brought into engagement with the spring elements 28, the respective elements of the assembly are illustrated by their dotted line position A. As the underturned edge 25 of the ornamental member 23 passes over the hump portion 3d `of the spring elements 28, the respective elements of the assembly are in their respective dotted line position as indicated at B. The respective positions of the different elements of the assemblyin their final position are indicated by the full lines in Figure 3. It is to be observed that as the ornamental member 23 is moved'from right to left in Figure 3, very little force is required to ilex the spring elements 28 downwardly, for the reason that their pivot point or point of iexure is well to the right of the point at which the underturned edge 25 of the member 23 rst engages the spring elements 28. It is further to be noted that after the ornamental member, 23 has once passed over the hump 3d of a spring element 28 so thatit is in the position indicated by the full lines e in Figure 3, a relatively great force is required to subsequently move the ornamental member from left to right. This is. by reason of the fact that the spring element 28 tends to buckle in its middle rather than ex down out of the path of the un'- derturned edge 25, as it did when the member 23 was being mounted onthewheel. Since the point of exure is ahead oi' the point at'which the underturned edge 25 engages the spring element 23, it is apparent that it will take a relatively large force to cause the bent end 3l of the spring element 28 to move downwardly against the removal force. v'l'.he amount of force which is necessary to remove the ornamental member 23 from the .f

wheel assembly may be adjusted by varying the angle at which the main body of the spring element 28 extends awayfrom its point of nexure, or 75.

by varying the angle at which the tip portion 3| is disposed with respect to the direction of the removal force (that is to say, with respect to the horizontal) From the above description, it will be apparent that I have provided an extraordinarily simple, yet effective arrangement for detachably securing an ornamental member to va wheel. The novel arrangement permits the ornamental member to be mounted on the wheel by simply moving it axially inwardly against the side of the wheel. It should also be noted that with this particular arrangement, the ornamental member will be self-centered on the wheel. It will also be observed that while only a very slight axial pressure on the outside of the ornamental member is necessary to snap it into retaining engagementv with the springs carried on the wheel y (in fact, it has been found in practice that an ornamental member of the character described may be mounted by simply pressingon it with one or two fingers), a relatively great force is necessary tol dismount the ornamental member` from the wheel. One convenient method for dismounting the ornamental member from the wheel is to insert the relatively sharp edge of a pry-off tool between the outer marginal extremity of the ornamental member 23 in the intermediate side flange I4 of the rim Il, and then give the tool a sharp jerk. l

In Figure- 4 of the drawings, a slightly modified form of spring relement is illustrated which requires a slightly greater force'toremove the ornamentalv member from that required for the spring construction just described. In this modified form, the wheel construction and the form of ornamental member are identical to that of the preferred embodiment and therefore have been given the same reference numerals. Thev leaf spring elements 28, however, have underturned lips 35 at their extreme free ends which are adapted to engage the undersurface 38 of the flange I8. This' construction permits the elements 28 to be stressed in their normal position.' That is to say, the spring elements 28 may be stressed so that they tend to move outwardly but vare refrained from such movement bythe lips 35. As will be apparent to those skilled in the 1 art, this stressing of the elements 28 in their normal position increases the amount of deformation force necessary vto flex the elements 28 both by the inward movement of the member 23 and the ,outward movement thereof. That vis to say, since the elements 28 fiex inwardly not only during their mounting operation but also during dismounting of the ornamental member from theA wheel, it is obvious that the stressing of the elements 28 which tends to have them move outwardly, increases the amount of. force necessary to flex them inwardly. In this slightly modified arrangement of the preferred embodiment of my invention, the ornamental member is assembled and disassembled in precisely'the same way as described in connection with the form shownv in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings.

In Figure 5, spring elements similar to those described in the preferred embodiment of the invention arelshown, but they cooperate with a different form of ornamental member. The configuration of the wheel main or body part is also slightly different. Those lelements of the wheel assembly which are similar to those previously described will be given thesame reference numerals, and no further description thereof will be made. l

Referring now to the drawings.- a single ornamental member 31 has been substituted for the two ornamental members 23 and 24 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The ornamental member 31 includes a dome portion 38 and an outer integral ring portion 33." An annular intermediate reentrant groove 48 is formed in the member 31 for the dual purpose of providing a radially inwardly extending flange and of providing a suitable groove in which a pry-off tool may be inserted to remove the ornamental member 31 from lits mounted position on the Wheel l0. As will be observed from the drawings, the intermediate re-entrant groove or fiange 4U acts in the wheel assembly combination in substantially the same way and for the same purpose as the underturnedV marginal edge of the preferred embodiment does. They ornamental member 31 is mounted on and dismounted from the wheel I0 in the same manner as the ornamental member 23 is mounted on and dismounted from the wheel illustrated in Figure 1.

In Figure 6 of the drawings, an arrangement quite similar to the preferred embodiment of thev invention illustrated inFigure 1 of the drawings is shown. Those elements in Figure 6 which are identical with corresponding elements in FigureI 1 have been given the same reference numerals `for purposes of clarity. In this arrangement,

however, the ornamental trim ring 42 is secured in place by means of the same spring elements 28 which secure the ornamental member 23 vin place. The trim ring 42 may be given'any configuration which is pleasing to the eye, but preferably 4is of the configuration indicated in the drawings. The outer marginal edge'43 of the I trim ring 42 is underturned and adapted for disposition against the outer edge of the portion I6 of the rim I'I. The inner marginal edge 44 of the trim ring 42 is outwardly turned and adapted to rest in\intimate contact with 4the ,curled outer edge 25 of the ornamental member 23. l

From the drawings, lit will4 readily be apparent that the spring pressure of the elements 28 which retain the ornamental member 23 in desired position on the wheel also retain the ornamental' trim ring 42 in desired position by reason of the fact .that the outer turned inner marginal edge y 44 of the trim ring 42 'lies between the side flange I4 of the rim Il and the curled outer edge 25 of the ornamental member 23. The ornamental member retaining elements 28 function in the combination in precisely the same manner as that described in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

To assemble the ornamental trim ring 42 and the ornamental member 23 of the wheel I0, the ornamental trim ring 42 is disposed in desired position against the outer side of the rim Il, and the ornamental member 2311s snapped over the elements 28 against the outer turned inner marginal edge 44 of the ornamental trim ring 42. As the 4ornamental member 23 is moved this instance provision is made for temporarily supporting the ornamental trim ring in desired extend through apertures in the Wheel.

position, pending the assembly of the central ornamental member in position on the wheel. For purposes of clarity, those elements which are substantially the same as corresponding elements in Figure 6 have been given the same reference numerals.

-Referring now to the drawings, it will be noted that the outwardly bent inner marginal edge 88 of the trim ring 42 is provided with a reverse curve at its extreme end, as at 85. The reverse curve portion ll is adapted to engage the end portions 3I of the leaf spring elements 28 prior l to the time when the ornamental member 23 is moved into position on the Wheel. The cooperation of the spring elements 28 with the reverse curve portion 85 of the trim ring l2 at a time prior to the assembling of the ornamental member 23 on Athe wheel I8 is clearly indicated by the dotted lines in the drawings. As the ornamental member 23 is moved into the desired position on the wheel ill, the curled outer edge 25 rides over the spring elements 28 as previously described and rests against the curved portion 45 of the trim ring 82.A It will be noted that when the ornamental member 23 is in this position,

the reverse curved portion d5 of the trim ring 82 does not rest in contact with the end portion 3l of the element 28, this being necessary in order to secure the application of spring pressure through the curved portion 25 and then through the curved portion 45 of the trim ring 42 to the side ange I8 of the rim II.

In order to carry out the teachings of the f present invention, it is not necessary that the vehicle wheel I8 be apertured opposite the free ends 3l oi' the spring elements 28, for it isI only necessary that there be suflicientnclearance between the ends 3| of the spring elements 28 and the wheel body to permit the movement illustrated in Figure 3. It is thus apparent that the free ends of the spring elements 28`may be disposed over a suitable groove in the body part of the wheel I8, suitable indentations, or that the entire spring elements be spaced from the main body part of the wheel, such as by mounting them over bulges in the wheel or by mount-- ing them on a separate member or members secured to the Wheel.

In Figure 8 of the drawings, a form of wheel construction is shown which does not require the free ends 3l of the spring elements 28 to More particularly, the laterally extending flange i8 of the wheel body part I2 ls provided withan annular groove 88, and the spring element 28 is so mounted on the Wheel I8 that the free end 3lv is disposed above the groove 88. It will at once be apparent that this groove 86 permits suflicient flexing of the spring elements 28 to permit them to operate in the manner described in connection with Figures l to 3 of the draw ings. Y

Although an annular groove 46 has been described above, it will be at once apparent thatv an annular series of indentations or depressions which are spaced opposite the free ends 3l of the springs 28 will permit the operation of this form of the invention in' precisely the same manner as that described in connection with Figure 8, and a wheel with such indentations may be employed with equal success.

In Figures9 and 10, aperturesin the laterally extending ilange I8 ofthe wheel body part I2 are rendered unnecessary by virtue of the fact that the laterally extending ange I8 is provided with an annular series of bulges 41 thereon. The spring elements 28 are secured to the wheel body part I2 in the manner described in connection with Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings by means of rivets 32 or the like, vbut in this case the central portions 38 of the spring elements 28 extend up and over the corner 48 of the bulge 81. It will therefore be observed that the bulges f 8T in the laterally extending ange I8 of the wheel body part I2 serve to space the spring elements 28 so that their free ends 3l are spaced a suicient distance from the upper surface of the laterally extending flange i8 to. permitl flexing of the spring elements 28 in the manner described and illustrated in connection with Figure 3 of the drawings.

Although an annular series of bulges Ill have been described as providing the means by whichthe spring elements 28 are spacedv from the upper surface of the laterally extending ange I8, it is obvious that a continuous ridge or other abutment may be provided for the purpose of spacing the spring elements 28; or, in fact, the laterally extending ange I8 itself may be so shaped with respect to the shape of the spring elements 28 that the free ends 3| of the latter will be spaced a sumcient distance from the upper surface ol the iiange.

The manner in which the ornamental member 23 is mounted and dismounted from the wheel I8 in Figures 9 and 10 is precisely thel same,

-and the spring elements 28 operate in precisely the same manner, as that described in connection with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures l to 3 of the drawings.

In Figures 11 and 12 of the drawings, a further arrangement is shown which renders the ring member 49 is secured to the body part I2 of-the wheel I8 in any suitable manner, such as by means of a plurality of rivets 58. Secured to the outer marginal edge portion 5I of the ring 49 'are the spring elements 28. The spring elements 28 may be secured to the ring member 89 in any suitable manner, such as by means of a plurality of rivets 52. It will thus be understood that the ring member 49 serves the function of spacing the spring elements 28 a desired distance away from the outer surface of the body part l2 of the wheel In, by virtue -of the fact that the tail portions 29 of the spring elements 28 are' spaced outwardly from the outer surface of the body part I2. The operatiorfof the spring elements 28 in this form of the invention is precisely similar to thatl described in connection with Figure 3 of the drawings,'and the ornamental member 23 may be mounted and dismounted from. the wheel I8 in the manner hrev to be understood that a plurality of spaced annularly disposed members may be employed with equal success, such, for example, as by providing a separate auxiliary member for each spring element 28. l l

From the above description, it will be seen that I have provided an extraordinary simple, yet

ellective method and means for mounting orna- The novel means,

mental members on wheels. includes the highly desirable characteristic l which requires only a slight deformation force to assemble the ornamental member or members on the wheel, but which requires a relatively great force to dismountthe member or members from the wheel.

While I have shown particular embodimentsl of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto,

since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claimsv vginal edge, and a plurality of resilient leaf 'ornamental vmember retaining elements each secured to said wheel at one end and extending radially outwardly and axially inwardly of their point of 4 attachment to the wheel, each element being bent at its free end to forma cam surface at,a substantial angle to the direction of normal extension, said cam surface being adapted to engage said underturned edge to retain said ornamental member in desired position on said wheel.

2. 'I'he combination comprising a wheel, a plurality' of ornamental,l members for disposition on the outer side of said wheel including one ornamental member having an underturned outer marginal edge,- and a plurality of resilient leaf ornamental member retaining elements each secured to said wheel at one end and extending radially outwardly and axially inwardlyof their point of attachment to the wheel, each element being bent at its free end to form a cam surface at a substantial angle to the direction of normal extension, said cam surface being adapted -to engage said underturned edge to retain said ornamental members in desired position on said wheel, said ornamental member having said underturned marginal edge being adapted to secure the other of said ornamental members in place.

3. 'I'he combination comprising a wheel having rim and b'ody parts,= said body part including a substantially laterally extending flange having an annular series of apertures therein, an ornamental member for disposition over said body part and having an underturned outer marginal edge, a plurality of axially inwardly and radially outwardly extending leaf spring elements each secured at its inner end to said body part and each havingits outer end bent at a substantial angle edge, a plurality of axially inward and radiallyY outwardly extending leaf spring elements each secured at its inner base to said body partiand each having its outer end bent at a angle 'ai itself and extending into one or said apertures of said. lateral ange, said bent portion being adapted to engage said underturned edge of said ornamental member, thereby to detachably retain said member in desired position on said 5 wheel, said bent portion of each of said elements being provided atits outer extremity with a lip adapted to engage the underside of said lateral ange to limit outward movement of the free end of said element.

5. The combination comprising a. wheel having rim and body parts, an ornamental member adapted to c over a substantial portion of the exterior side of saidwheel including the junction point between said rim and body (parts, said member having an intermediate annular iiange extending radially inwardly, a plurality of leaf spring retaining elements each secured at one end to the outer surface of said wheel and extending radially outwardly and axially inwardly, the free end of said spring element having a cam surface at a substantial angle to the direction of extension of said element adapted to engage the underside of said flange, thereby to detachably retain said ornamental member in desired position on said wheel. l

6. The combination comprising a wheel, an ornamental member for disposition on the outer side of said wheel, said member having an indented annular groove portion forming a radially inwardly extending iiange,| a plurality of leaf spring retaining elements each secured at one end to the outer surface ofsaid wheel and extending radially outwardly and axially inwardly, the free ends of\said elements being bent rearwardly and radially inwardly forming a surface adapted to detachably engage said iiange, thereby to retain said ornamental member in desired position on said wheeLf l v 7. The combination gcomprising a wheel, an ornamental trim ring x,having an axially outwardly facing channel at its inner marginal edge, an ornamental member having a curved outer edge adapted to nest in said curved edge of said ring,'and a plurality of resilient leaf ornamental member retaining elements each secured to said wheel at one end and extending'radially outwardly and axially inwardly of its point of attachment to the wheel, each element being bent at its free end to form a cam surface at a substantial angle. to the direction of normal extension, said cam surface being adapted to engage said curved edge of said member to retain said ornamental member and said trim'ring in desired position on said wheel.

8. The combination comprising a wheel, an ornamental trim ring having an axially outwardly facing channel at its inner marginal edge,

. an ornamental member having a curved outer edge adapted to nest in said curved edge of said ring, and a plurality of resilient leaf ornamental member retaining elements each secured to said wheel at one end and extending radially out- 9.-"I'he combination comprising a wheel, a l5 wheel, a. dished disc disposed on the outer side of the wheel and having a tuned edge on the inside thereof, the wheel having a. bodywith a portion projecting axially outwardly for cooperation with said dished disc, and spring catches for retaining said disc on said wheel, each of said catches comprising a strip of spring metal xed at one end to said wheel body and vhaving a body part extending diagonally astrayv fromthe wheel 'axis and providing an inclined surface engaging the inside of said turned edge. said body part extending generally in an axial direction outwardly from said bent end and thence radially inward to its point of attachment to said wheel body.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

